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By Vicki Hess
Have you listened to how folks describe their day-to-day lives at work? Here are some of the words and phrases I regularly hear:
So you may be thinking…”But that’s how I feel, Vicki!” Unfortunately, talking about negative feelings can promote more negative feelings. According to an article in Well+Good, “the words you speak and think can automatically trigger a biological response in your body that increases your edginess exponentially.” The article goes on to say, “It may sound woo woo, but biology backs up the belief that stress ultimately starts when you say that you’re stressed.” Your body responds to thoughts and emotions that are happening in your brain. When you consistently talk about being crazy busy, overwhelmed or in over your head then your body responds by releasing catecholamines (the fight or flight hormone). These hormones start to reinforce the idea that you are in danger. Intentionally choosing your vocabulary positively influences the way you feel and the actions you take. When someone asks about your day, try saying “I’ve always got plenty of work to do to keep me out of trouble” or “This job provides me with a great opportunity to challenge my skills for organization and productivity”. Well+Good shares…“The old “fake it ‘til you make it” tactic definitely applies here: Research shows it really does help to feign happiness and positivity, even if you feel like things are falling apart. One recent study showed that those who were instructed to smile during a stressful task had a lower heart rate and reported more positive emotions than those who didn’t, while another proved optimistic thinkers have lower cortisol levels than pessimists.” Focusing on mindfulness can help too. When feeling the stress, stop and take a few deep breaths before you start to get into a busy contest with colleagues. These breaths makes a huge difference in your body’s response to the stress that you’re experiencing. You may very well be in over your head but that doesn’t mean you have to make it part of your everyday conversations. Start growing your WOW’s by looking at things that you actually have control over and do something about those. Stop lamenting about all the things you don’t have control over. It’s not necessarily an easy fix but it’s one that’s well worth the time and effort for your body and mind. Looking for your next healthcare speaker? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to make your healthcare event a success!
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By Vicki Hess
So it’s the holidays and we’re all supposed to be feeling grateful. Music is playing, decorations abound…it’s like you’re living in a sappy Hallmark movie…or is it? What if you really feel tired, overwhelmed, frustrated or jealous? What if the posts on your friends’ social media walls aren’t bringing you joy? What if all you want to do is complain? Relax. It’s okay. You do you. Unless…what you really want is to feel more energy, less overwhelmed and happy with what you have. If you’d like to make that choice, read on. Did you know that according to Robert Emmons and other positive psychology researchers, having a regular gratitude practice actually:
It’s simply a choice to be grateful. Yes, it takes intention and it’s a decision you can make right now. Stop and think about something you are thankful for. Yeah! You did it! Still feeling like you are faking it? Instead of thinking “When I’m happy, then I’ll be grateful” or “When I’m not working so hard, I’ll be grateful” flip it around. Try these on for size: “When I’m grateful, then I’ll feel happy.” “When I’m grateful, things at work won’t feel quite so bad.” Some of you are rolling your eyes. It’s okay. You can go back to your high stress, very busy life any time you want. You see it really is a choice. Not the external circumstances – some of those are tough to change – but the internal response is all yours. You’ve got the power to be grateful right now and every day moving forward. Create a habit of gratitude and you’ll literally become a magnet for things to be thankful for. Still doubtful? That’s okay. Try it a little bit at a time. Soon, you won’t remember what it felt like to complain all the time. You won’t remember why you let the little things get to you. You won’t remember the crabby old you. Looking for your next healthcare speaker? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to make your healthcare event a success! By Vicki Hess
I’ve been listening to the podcast, “How I Built This” with host Guy Raz, which shares interesting stories of entrepreneurs who started their own businesses. Some of the recent episodes include the founders of JetBlue, Eileen Fisher Clothing and Compaq Computers. As an entrepreneur, I’m inspired by the creativity and resilience these business leaders demonstrated in starting their enterprises in spite of small and large hurdles. As the title of the podcast shares, the stories are about building and growth. This got me thinking about how these ideas relate to you – the leaders and individuals working in healthcare today. What are you building? What stories would you share if you were the podcast guest? Leaders and employees in healthcare fall into the category of a Builder or a Buster based on day-to-day performance on the job. The Performance Triangle demonstrates 3 key drivers of workplace behavior: Ability, Opportunity and Motivation. Here’s What Builders Do in Each Category… When it comes to Motivation, Builders are:
Don’t Be a Buster A Buster is someone who does the opposite of the behaviors shown above. Busters are disengaged and come to work and tear down others. They suck the energy out of meetings and customer encounters. They are great at pointing fingers and laying blame. Most folks don’t self-identify as Busters; however, they demonstrate the behaviors that would define them as just that. For today, think about how you would identify yourself. Builder or Buster? Engaged or Disengaged? Satisfied or Dissatisfied? Today’s challenge is to look at one part of the Performance Triangle and figure out how to build your capacity in that area. Looking for your next healthcare speaker? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to make your healthcare event a success! By Vicki Hess
As humans, we need to connect. This is a critical part of the leader’s role in engaging employees. But the news is bleak when it comes to connecting…here are a just few of the findings from a survey which Cigna conducted of 20K+ U.S. adults:
What are you doing in your role to promote positive connections? When I talk to leaders about Creating Connections, I hear about two types:
Chance Connections Chance Connections are those that are reactive in one way or another. Having an Open-Door Policy is an example. It’s good but doesn’t set a very high bar. Have you ever heard of an organization with a “Closed Door Policy”? Here’s what usually happens…you open your door and sit and wait (and mostly hope that no one stops by so that you can get your “real work” done uninterrupted – haha). It’s important to be accessible. So, keep your door open and understand that you are leaving the connection to chance. The second type of Chance Connection is rounding. In this case, you are the interruption to the staff member. Staff are in the middle of their “real work” and you’re stopping by might be a welcome break or an annoying inconvenience. Don’t get me wrong, rounding is very important because not only do you make connections, you also get a visual of how things are going. Keep rounding with staff, just know that you are still leaving the connection to chance. Conscious Connections The most powerful kind of connection is a Conscious Connection – where both you and the team member are proactive and prepared. This happens in a One-on-One (1:1) Meeting (either virtually or in-person). One question I routinely ask leaders in my client needs assessment is “What do you know you should be doing related to engagement and aren’t and why? I’ve asked this question to thousands of leaders and the number one thing they aren’t doing is meeting one-on-one with team members. Many leaders struggle with making Conscious Connections. The number one reason why they aren’t doing it is that “there isn’t enough time.” In follow up conversations, I hear the second reason it’s not happening is that there’s a perception that it’s not worth the time. Of course, these two challenges go hand in hand. If you don’t think something is worth your time, then you aren’t going to make time for it. Make Time for Meetings Here’s one thing I know. Your actions and behaviors reflect your beliefs and mindsets. If you believe that meeting 1:1 with your direct reports is important – you will make the time. Try these ideas:
Make the Meetings Worthwhile What makes a 1:1 meeting so powerful is that both you and your direct report are prepared for the conversation. It’s a Conscious Connection. That alone adds to the value. Try these ideas:
Now is the time to create Conscious Connections and positively impact engagement – yours and your team’s. Enjoy! Looking for your next healthcare speaker? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to make your healthcare event a success! By Vicki Hess
More than 800 healthcare leaders responded to the Voices of Healthcare Management™ survey I recently completed, and an interesting insight they shared is that that one of the top 3 most challenging engagement behaviors for leaders is taking time for reflection and self-awareness. I’m not surprised, are you? If you pulled out your calendar right now, where would “reflection” show up? I’m guessing nowhere. What if your boss walked into your office and you were sitting behind your desk with a faraway look on your face thinking? You might be embarrassed and thought of as "wasting time." That couldn’t be farther from the truth. We know that self-awareness and self-management are two key elements of emotional intelligence. We also know that emotional intelligence is a critical skill for getting along in the world. The great news is that these two skills can be learned and practiced through reflection. According to Barbara Mackoff, in Nurse Manager Engagement: Strategies for Excellence and Commitment, engaged (nurse) managers leverage lessons from experience. They look for clues about themselves and others in the workplace and observe the effect of their own behavior on others. It makes sense that these behaviors would apply to everyone in an organization, regardless of your role. Here are 3 ideas to jumpstart your reflection abilities: 1. When something good happens and you are feeling satisfied, energized and productive (AKA engaged), stop and reflect on how your behaviors contributed to the positive results. 2. You know what’s coming next. When you experience results that you aren’t happy with, stop and reflect on how your behaviors contributed to the negative outcome. 3. Build reflection into your day with intention. Before you dive in to start your next project, stop and reflect on your progress to date. Take 2 minutes to sit quietly and think about what you want to accomplish and how things are going so far. Taking time for reflection and self-awareness allows you to find joy in your own work and to connect to others in a more positive way. Looking for your next healthcare speaker? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to make your healthcare event a success! By Vicki Hess
Have you ever noticed how feelings of joy might be fleeting, but anger seems to stick around? I’m working on a new keynote about resilience called Journey to Joy™ and this process has me thinking a lot about joy and anger. We have all experienced anger at work. According to Science of People, “psychologists have discovered that there are three causes of anger:
It’s easy to see how healthcare professionals in all roles can experience these causes at work…especially #1. When you’re angry your body releases stress hormones that lead to a fight or flight response. Over time, if anger persists, these hormones can lead to headaches, increased blood pressure and more. The external ramifications of anger may also include damaged relationships and work-related performance issues. When you’re cool, calm and collected, this all makes sense but in the heat of the moment, when your hot buttons are being pushed, it can be difficult. What most folks want to know is what to do with the anger. It’s not good to ignore those feelings. Repressing the anger can lead to a bigger burst down the road and that’s not healthy either. My suggestion is to SHIFT from anger to joy. Some of you have heard me speak or read my work about SHIFTing your POWs to WOWs and these steps may look familiar. Here are 5 steps to shrink the anger and choose joy:
Looking for your next healthcare speaker? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to make your healthcare event a success! By Vicki Hess
I was at a yoga class recently and the teacher was reminding us to focus on our inhale and exhale – the yin & yang of breathing. It was a great reminder that inhaling all the time doesn’t work. We need to stop to exhale – to disengage – to fill up again. Don’t worry, the newsletter isn’t a Zen diatribe (is there such a thing) on finding your true self (although that might be a good one for the future – haha). Today is all about letting go in order to be more engaged. It’s easy to get stuck and feel disengaged at work. We often see others around us who feel overwhelmed or out of sorts due to rapid change, heavy workloads, drama in the workplace and more. That’s why we need to disengage and create some distance (mental and/or physical). Distance gives a new perspective. New perspectives change beliefs and mindsets. New beliefs and mindsets change actions. New actions change outcomes. Try these 3 ideas to reconnect to what makes you feel satisfied, energized & productive (AKA engaged)... 1. Disengage fully. Take time off. Have fun. Relax. Explore. Disconnect. Find joy in serving others. Do what makes your boat float. 2. Disengage from a specific situation. Just because something happens around you at work, it doesn’t mean you must join in whatever is happening. If one of your coworkers is felling the pull of The Chain Gang (AKA disengagement), you can walk away. Choose another direction. Choose a new perspective (see above). 3. Disengage from circumstances that are out of your control. If there’s a systemic issue that you encounter and you don’t have the ability to change whatever is happening, then disengage. Use the rule of 3 related to complaining about something. You can complain to 3 different people and then disengage. After a while, complaining is just a way we hurt ourselves. As you go about your day today, think about the yin/yang of engagement. Where can you disengage to engage and create your own Professional Paradise? Looking for your next healthcare speaker? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to make your healthcare event a success! By Vicki Hess
I love following up with folks who hear me speak to learn about how they are using the tools and resources that I share in my talks. I was excited to learn that Amy Boyce (who heard me speak at a conference) and her team in outpatient radiology at the Center for Advanced Medicine, South County, Barnes Jewish Hospital, had achieved 100% engagement on their last survey. I was going to St. Louis, MO so we set up a time for me to visit. I wanted to see in person what 100% engagement looks like. I was curious to learn about their “secret sauce”. I arrived and found Amy waiting for me at the front entrance as promised. Amy is a strong leader who is committed to the employees and patients she serves. Her sincerity and genuine interest in creating the best possible workplace came through during my visit. I could tell that managing this team is what makes Amy feel satisfied, energized and productive at work (AKA engaged). As I met each member of the team I asked, “What makes this department so special?” To a person, they responded, “We’re a family." Here are some of the things Amy and the team shared that are responsible for their high level of engagement: Hire for engagement. They don’t settle for someone who is good technically but isn’t willing to put in the work to support others on the team. They have interviewed dozens of people for an open position and would rather cover the open position than hire the wrong person. Don’t put up with bad attitudes. The turnover that the department has experienced has been positive with folks being held accountable for their interactions. If you don’t give your patients and job responsibilities your all, you aren’t going to last here. Have each other’s back. Each member of the team mentioned how they look out for each other and make sure everyone has the support they need. They successfully work in small spaces with very high productivity because of their teamwork. Everyone is a leader. The group decided they didn’t need a “lead” tech or nurse because they all see themselves as leaders. Each person is capable of being “in charge” to meet the needs of patients and co-workers. They cover for each other and make sure that their patients get the best care possible. As a result, they consistently score well on patient experience surveys. Visible and supportive supervisor. Amy is physically and mentally present with her team. She frequently rounds with staff to make sure they are having a good day at work. She removes obstacles and provides needed tools and resources. She is a good listener and pays attention to the engagement level of the team members. As you can see, there is no “secret sauce”. But of course, you probably already knew that. Working on employee engagement is like getting in shape. There aren’t any secrets, it takes consistent work overtime to achieve positive outcomes. Every item above is achievable in any workplace. I loved the time I spent visiting with the outpatient radiology team at Barnes Jewish. Their smiles are contagious. Their sincerity is refreshing and their work ethic is remarkable. Congratulations on creating your very own Professional Paradise! Looking for your next healthcare speaker? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to make your healthcare event a success! By Vicki Hess
Most employees don’t care about employee engagement but they do want to have a good day at work. Would you agree? Having a good day at work is the best reward for putting in the effort of showing up and doing your best. The great news is that “good day” is defined differently for everyone. When I wrote SHIFT to Professional Paradise, I asked over 1,000 people: “What makes you happy at work? Here are the top 4 responses:
Here’s more great news. You are in control of all of each of these! Imagine showing up for work with a mindset that says “I can’t wait to get work done. I’m excited about who I get to work with and our team. I’m going to appreciate those around me.” What if everyone showed up with that mindset. That would be Professional Paradise! Unfortunately, old habits get in the way and old, unproductive, mindsets rear their ugly head. Sometimes we forget to intentionally have a good day at work and get sucked into the tide of others’ negativity. So here is where the Triggers come in. I speak and write about creating Gratitude Triggers on a regular basis. A Gratitude Trigger is using something that routinely happens as a reminder to be grateful. Many people use meal time as that trigger and say “thank you” for the food they are about to eat. Let’s apply the same idea to engagement at work. My definition of engagement is when you are satisfied, energized and productive. What’s already going on in your day that you could use as a trigger to connect with that? Some ideas that might work are:
During all these times, your mind is free to think about something good that’s happened recently. You can smile about something you’ve accomplished or someone you enjoyed talking with or appreciation you have given or received. Start small with one engagement trigger and add more as you get comfortable with consciously focusing on your good day at work. Looking for your next healthcare speaker? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to make your healthcare event a success! By Vicki Hess
Happy New Year! To start out the year, I’d like you to think about the answer to this question: "Is your boss a mind reader?" Most likely, your response is a resounding "no." I’ve never met a real mind reader (that I know of), so I’m assuming that they are few and far between. To save you from having to try and read my mind, I’ll get right to the point. If your boss can’t read your mind, then why would you expect him or her to know what makes you feel satisfied, energized & productive (AKA engaged) at work? I think lots of folks wish their manager would spend more time getting to know them to better understand what makes them tick. I see others who wish their boss would take charge of their engagement by fixing all the external broken things and solving all the day-to-day problems. Here’s the news for 2017: Engagement is an inside job. You are the boss of your own engagement. Here are a couple of ideas for how to avoid the mind-reading trap and create your own Professional Paradise right now... 1. Get really clear about what puts a skip in your step at work. What are those things that make time fly? Common responses that I hear are “getting work done”, “positive connections with coworkers” and “learning new things”. Of course your answers might be different – there are no right or wrong responses. When you know what makes you feel engaged, then you are more likely to notice it when it happens. 2. Sit down one-on-one with your supervisor and share what makes you feel satisfied, energized & productive at work. You don’t need to wait until he or she schedules the meeting – just ask for the time and share your agenda. Sure, it would be nice if your boss initiated this conversation, but you don’t have to wait. No need to point fingers or lay blame, just professionally discuss those things that up your engagement factor. Be sure to include ways that you could more regularly connect with these things (ie, if you like learning new things – offer to be on a project team). When you are engaged at work, it benefits you, your customers and the organization as a whole so your boss should be happy you asked for this meeting. Engagement is a shared responsibility. Sometimes managers get it right and sometimes they don’t. There’s no reason why you can’t be the catalyst for the conversation if your boss hasn’t stepped up to do it. No fancy mind reading…just good old-fashioned face-to-face conversation! Looking for your next healthcare speaker? Get in touch with us today to make your healthcare event a success! |
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